CHAPTER FOUR

Didi awoke to the thunk of mail dropping through the front door slot. Half asleep, her brain focused and filled with snapshots of Kevin from the night before. Ugh.

Bleary-eyed, she peered at the clock and shot up off the couch. She was a late sleeper on Saturday mornings anyway, but it was eleven oh-five a.m. Maisie was at the vet waiting to be picked up. It was a good thing the Airy Ridge Cat Clinic was close by, because it closed at noon.

She dispatched Kevin to a shadowy corner of her mind. There’d be time to ruminate later.

Dragging the blanket and pillow back into the bedroom, she risked a quick look in the mirror. Ick. Tangled hair and disillusioned, red-rimmed eyes stared back at her. What did she expect? Considering the circumstances, she tried hard not to be too critical. Now was not the time to wallow and, regrettably, no time for a good, long soak in the tub. After a quick shower, she toweled off, tugged on sweats and a pair of sneakers, and scraped her shoulder-length hair back into a ponytail.

Didi gasped as she rushed down the stairs from her second-floor duplex. The underside of her car was coated in mud, and a long, ugly scratch marred the passenger side door. She ran around the car. A deep dent in the front bumper glared at her, the chipped windshield glinted, and the antenna slanted to the left. Poor, abused vehicle. She’d put it through a lot last night. Across town was a decent car wash, but she’d have to wait until next payday to fix the rest.

Picturing Maisie pacing the cage, Didi raced to the animal hospital and pulled into a parking space with fifteen minutes to spare. Katie, the receptionist, greeted her with a sigh of relief. “Are we glad to see you. Maisie’s been scolding the entire staff all morning, demanding to go home.”

“She’s a chatty little thing, isn’t she? Very opinionated, although my fiancé calls her bossy.” Growl. She didn’t have a fiancé anymore. Did she? If he didn’t want her, then she didn’t want him. Right? Her head ached. Once again pitching Kevin out of her brain, she resolved to go about her day as usual.

Lifting her chin, she inhaled a deep breath. “Is she ready to go?”

“Maisie is more than ready. I have some ‘after dentistry’ instructions for the next week. We did have to extract one tooth, so she gets antibiotics for ten days. She may be woozy for the next few hours, but the last I heard, she was doing laps around the cage. Let me call a tech to get her ready, and you can be on your way. You’re our last pickup of the day.”

Didi chose a chair in the waiting room and leafed through the latest Cat Fancy magazine.

The front door squeaked open as a tall man sauntered into the room. His sandy brown hair needed a trim, but Didi wished she had his natural wave. The stray lock that fell in his eyes was kind of cute.

The guy flashed her a lopsided grin. She tossed him a tiny smile and glanced away as he drifted past her up to the front desk. While Katie took a call, he leaned on the half-wall, lightly drumming his fingers on the counter. “Hi. I called this morning about picking up some cat food.”

Looking up, Katie brushed her hair back with her fingertips before gushing, “Oh, yes. Jake, right? I’ll run in the back and grab the bag I saved especially for you.”

Didi hid a chuckle behind her hand, kept her head down, and pretended she was reading. Some girls could be really obvious.

Mr. Mesmerizing plunked down in the chair on the other side of the room.

In short order, familiar feline shrieks reverberated through the office. What had started out as pitiful mews had risen quickly to high-pitched wails. Maisie could be a first-class drama queen when she chose to be, and Didi felt sorry for the poor soul who’d had to coerce her into the carrier.

When the calico caught sight of her, the caterwauling slowed, but lovely green eyes sparked at the indignity of it all. At least the sight of “Mom” coming to set her free lowered the volume.

“Thanks for taking such good care of my girl.” Didi tried not to smile as her cat glared at Katie. “I’ll call if she isn’t back to normal by tomorrow, although she seems awfully lively right now.”

Didi picked up the carrier and balanced it on a chair. Pushing her fingers through the wire, she let her cat rub her furry face up against her thumb. “Ah, Sweetie. I’m so sorry you feel bad. We’ll be home soon.”

“Hey, that’s a pretty cat.” The guy, apparently Jake, squatted and peered in the cage.

Proud of her gorgeous girl, Didi angled the carrier so he could get a better look. “Her name’s Maisie, and she’s a lot prettier when she doesn’t have snot clinging to her nose and oily goop caked around her eyes.”

“Maisie,” he echoed, giving Didi another one of his grins. He did have a nice smile. “Can I help you get her to the car?”

“Thanks for asking, but I’ll be all right.” Didi turned back toward the receptionist. “Bye, now.” As she strode out the door with her kitty, she waved at Jake. No doubt, Katie was glad to see her leave. Now she’d have the cute man all to herself.

When she got her kitty to the car, Didi opened the carrier and drew her baby onto her lap. Her now less-distressed bundle of fur had forgiven her and rubbed her downy cheeks against Didi’s fingers. Maisie wasn’t the kind of cat to hold a grudge.

“Ah, poor kitty, you’re all messy. We’ll get you home, and you can spend some quality time cleaning up.” Didi rubbed her cat behind the ears.

Gently, Didi slid Maisie back in her carrier and headed for home. When she peeked, she was pleased the cat was already bathing feverishly. She’d be busy half the day banishing the medicinal smell from her rumpled fur coat.

As she wound her way through town, the warm light of a gorgeous spring day painted the sky. A pity she was still too mopey to enjoy it. Back at the house, with the calico sleeping off the effects of the anesthesia, Didi sank to the couch to get her bearings. Now what? Should I call someone? Should I go for a stroll? Should I try to read, or should I just go back to bed and wallow in my confusion?

Didi did what she should have done in the first place. She looked up toward heaven, tipped her head back, and shouted, “Help!”

God always listened even when she couldn’t feel Him, but she sometimes wished He’d make His presence more…real. But today as she quieted her spirit, His love wrapped around her like a warm coverlet. A nearly audible voice inside her whispered, “I’m here. I’m right here with you.”

She closed her eyes and answered, “I know You’re here, and thank You, but now what?”

Immediately, the answer popped into her head. She’d call Pat, her minister’s wife. Didi didn’t know her as well as she’d like, but she considered her a friend, and they’d chatted on many occasions. She’d always seemed perceptive, practical, and understanding. Though Pat was past fifty, she was someone who’d listen without judgment and point her in the right direction.

Picking up the phone, Didi punched in a number with a shaky hand. Much to her dismay, the answering machine picked up. She started to leave a mournful message when someone answered the phone. “Whoever you are, please hold on a second. Chester needs a bowl of water, bad.”

Running water and hearty slurping carried over the line. A moment later, Pat’s cheery voice burst through. “Thanks for waiting. Pat here.”

The knot in Didi’s stomach loosened. She’d chosen the right person. “Hi, Pat, this is Didi O’Brien. I’m having a dreadful day and was hoping I could talk to you ASAP.”

“Well, sure. I should be free around two this afternoon. How about a late lunch? We could meet at the new cafe in the old Christ’s Church. The stained glass windows alone should cheer us, and the lattes, I hear, are out of this world.”

“Thanks, Pat. Sounds great. Two o’clock it is.”

More gulping noises came through the line. Chester must have been one thirsty dog. “See you soon.”

Didi hung up the phone, thankful she’d resisted the temptation to crawl back under the quilts and brood. Pat would know how to help. And she was sure she could come just as she was—sweatpants, sneakers, ponytail, and all.

She made herself a cup of tea and checked in the bedroom for Maisie. Seeing her lying flat on her back on her snuggly red blankie, Didi had to smile. Maisie snored a light, whiffling snore. She’d sleep soundly for many hours. At least Didi would have a warm body to come home to.

Sometimes, cats were better than men.